Coconut-husking machine



1929- R. w. TITMAS ET AL 1,724,739

COCONUT HUSKING MACHINE Filed April 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l V gvwenfow ZZe 2260/656 17" r zza imasz/g 2 attorney Aug. 13, 1929. R. w. TITMAS ET AL COCONUT HUSKING MACHINE Filed April 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,724,739 PATENT OFFICE.

REGINALD W. TITMAS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, AND ROBERT S. HICKISH, OF LA-CEIBA, SPANISH HONDURAS. CENTRAL AMERICA, ASSIGNORS TO TITMAS COMPANY, INC., 013 NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, A CORPORATION OF LOUISIANA.

COCONUT-HUSKING MACHINE.

Application filed April 14,

This invention relates to a coconut husking machine, and the primary object thereof is to husk coconuts in an expeditious and cheap manner without breaking the nuts, and avoid the disadvantages of the comparatively slow procedure by the utilization of ordinary manual labor and primitive means ordinarily used in husking coconuts at the present time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a comparatively simple mechanism of a portable nature which is readily operated by the successive placement of the nuts enclosed within the husk in various positions on devices which are operable to divide the husk into separate parts and loosen and force the nut outwardly from the husk preferably by manual power applied to an operating element and thereby not only expedite the separation of a coconut from its husk without the least impairment thereof, but materially reduce the expense and delay of husking coconuts by the procedure now commonly practiced.

A further object of the invention is to prov vide a coconut husking machine of a positively operating and strong endurable character which will withstand the pressure or stress to which the same is subjected during the husking operation without liability or breakage, and also to readily reduce the dimensions of the machine for transportation,

or for easy movement from one place to another.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, which will hereinafter appear,

the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings V Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying the features of the invention and showing the operation thereof in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a front end elevation of the improved machine showing a coconut in its husk applied thereon. r

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical section on the line 3, 3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail elevation of one of the blades shown by Figures 1 to 3 inclusive.

' Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detail perspective views of the improved machine showing the operation thereof in releasing a coconut from its husk.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a base platform which may be of 1927. Serial No. 183,836.

any length and width or of such dimensions as to provide a stable support for the machine and upon which the operator stands during the operation of the mechanism tion of the mechanism thereto and also for the operation of the said mechanism partially therethrough. Between the upper parallel portions 7 of the frame members 6 a casting 8 of relatively hard metal is secured in fixed position by suitable fastening means 9 extending t-herethrough and through said frame members, said casting extending slightly above the upper terminal of the frame members for proper disposition of a fixed bLade 10 preferably formed as an integral part of the rear portion of said casting and tapered longitudinally, as shown, and also reduced to a point 11. The blade 10 has a vertically straight rear side 12 and there is a movable blade 13 of similar contour cooperating therewith and adapted to normally tightly abut thereagainst. The blade 13 is similar in contour to the blade 10 and has a front vertically straight side 14, the blade 13 being secured at its lower extremity to a movable casting 15 by fastenings, as at 16 and 17. The casting 15 is mounted between the upper parallel portions 7 of the frame members 6 and terminates at its upper end coincidently with the upper terminal of the casting 8. The

blade 13 is slightly longer than the blade 10, and extends downwardly over the forward portion of the said casting 15, the latter being grooved or recessed, as at 18, to form a seat for the blade 13 so that a flush fittin and close assemblage of the two blades 10 and 13, or particularly of the blade 13 against the blade 10, may ensue. The casting 15 has a recess 15 in its forward edge below the lower terminal of the blade 13, said recess comprising an upper curved portion 19 which merges into a lower downwardly and forwardly 1nclined portion 20, which in turn merges lnto a depression. A fulcrum roller 21 mounted on a pin or bolt 28 @KtcPiding through the upper the parallel upper portions 7 of the frame 6 works in the said slot. A rod 23 projects forwardly from the casting 15 adjacent the lower end of the recess 15 and terminates in a book 24. An operating pedal lever 30 has a cross pin at its upper end which is seated in the hook 22 of the casting 15 and carries a stirrup 31 at its lower end for engagement by a foot of the operator. The lever is seated adjacent its upper end in a groove formed in the rear end ofthe arm 25 of the casting 15. The upper extremity of the lever 30 is slightly bent or is diverted from a straight line in a rearward direction, as at 33, for ensuring practical application and greater range of movement of said lever and a proper movement of the mechanism with which it is associated in a rearward direction. To the hook 24 of the rod 23 the upper end of a spring 34 is secured, the lower end of the said spring being attached to the center of a cross pin or bar 35 secured at its opposite ends to the lower upwardly converging portions of the side members 6 of the frame.

When the lever 30 is depressed from the full line position, shown by Figure 1, to the position indicated by the elongated broken line 32, a downward pull is exerted on the casting 15, and the casting 15, is rocked on the roller 21 as a fulcrum to move the blade 13 away from the blade 10. As the casting is thus moved by the lever 30 the rear end of the arm 25 is tilted downwardly and its slot 26 is moved forwardly on the rollerv 27 as a secondary fulcrum. This causes the inclined portion 20 of the recess 15 to move upwardly over the roller 21,; thus shifting the main fulcrum of the casting 15 toward the lower end of the latter. This operation continues until the lever 30 is fully depressed, and just about the time that it reaches the position indicated by the short dotted lines 34? of Figure 1, the spring 3 1' exerts a movement to cause the slot to slide and seat the roller 27 in the rear end thereof the said casting passing the center and imparting a slight jump or sudden prying action to the blade 13 which will be efiective in loosening the portion of the husk then engaged by the blade 13 with a material effectiveness in the operation on the part of the husk first forced open during the first step of releasing the husk from the nut. The operation of the lever 30 will be against the resistance of the spring 34, and

13, the nut will be forced entirely clear and upwardly from the husk.

The course pursued in primarily 'placmg the husk containing the nut and the succeeding steps in separating or forcing open parts of the husk and finally liberating the nut, is clearly shown by Figures 5 to 8, both inclusive. The husk containing the nut is first applied over both closed blades, as shown by Figure 5, the blades being caused to pierce and enter the husk adjacent to the enlarged or butt end, and in placing the husk on the machine the flat side is applied to the blades 10 and 13 while the latter are in closed position, and the lever 30 is then depressed to the position shown by Figure 6 when about one third of the husk will be forced open and free. The partially opened husk is then manually removed from the blades 10 and 13 and the latter again permitted to resume normal closed position, when the partially opened husk still containing the nut is again impaled or reset in a different position by turning the partially opened husk about one third around and again causing the closed blades 10 and 1.3 to penetrate the same, whereupon the lever 13 again depressed to separate the husk a further third, as shown by Figure 7. The nut still adhering to the remaining section of the husk, and the two thirds opened husk is then again manually removed and reset by further turning the same around on the closed blades 10 and 13, and the lever 30 is again depressed to open the remaining third and at the same time to release the nut andforce the latter entirely clear and upwardly from the husk, as shown by Figure 8. During this step by step operation the cam casting 15 is operated as heretofore explained, the roller 21 moving away from the upper curved portion 19 of the recess 15 and the arm 25 assuming the downward and rearward inclination and sliding on the roller 27 until the said latter roller is nearer the rear end of a slot 26. In each operation or successive step the slight jump or sudden prying action is imparted to the blade 13 as the roller 21 passes down the inclined portion 20 of the recess 15 and moves into the depression at the lower end of said inclined portion 20 when the lever 30 is fully depressed, thus causing the blades, and especially the blade 13, to operate on the husk and finally release and force the-nut upwardly and outwardly, as heretofore explained. This step by step operation will be expeditiously pursued, and all the parts including the two blades 10 and 13 will regularly function without the least obstruction, it being seen that in this form of husking machine the blade 10, which is stationary, acts as a holding blade and that the blade 13 serves to separate the portions of the husk and clear the nut from the husk.

In this form of husking machine it will also be noted that the lever 30 may be readily separated from the hook 22 to reduce the parts of the machine to compact form for storage or transportation, and that, if desired, the spring v34 may be detached from the hook 24 and rod 23. The platform 5 may also be detached from the frame comprising the upright members 6 to reduce the several parts to knock down form for reduction of expense in transportation or freightage. It is also obvious that the remaining parts of the improved husking machine at the upper extremity of the latter and which directly perform the work of opening the husk in sections and releasing and upwardly forcing the nut from the husk, may be detached and again reassembled for use in practical service by a person having little mechanical knowledge. It will also be seen that the parts of the husking machine are comparatively simple, the casting 15 including all of the vital working constituents with which the lever 30 is associated, and by this means the several constituents of the improved husking machine may be readily assembled for practical operation.

hat is claimed as new is 1. In a coconut husking machine, the combination of a supporting frame, separable blades projecting upwardly above said frame, a depressible operating means, cam devices interposed between the said operating means and blades for separating the blades, and spring means connected to said devices for moving the blades to closed position when pressure is released from the operating means.

2. In a coconut husking machine, the combination of a supporting frame, relatively movable blades extending above said frame and normally in juxtaposed position, a depressible operating means, a spring connected to said operating means and to a part of the frame, and devices between the said operating means and the blades for separating the blades and imparting a sudden separating action to one of the blades when said operating means is moved into fully depressed position to impart a prying action to a nut impaled on said blades.

3. In a coconut husking machine, the combination of a support, a pair of relatively movable blades extending above the said frame, operating mechanism, means between said operating mechanism and said blades for regularly producing the separation between said blades, said mechanism including means having a swinging action, and yielding means for returning the blades to normally closed position.

4. In a coconut husking machine, the combination of a supporting frame, of an immovable blade projecting above said frame, a movable blade coacting with and normally closed against the said immovable blade, fulcrumed means for moving the movable blade relatively to the immovable blade, operating means for actuating said fulcrumed means, and means for automatically closing the movable blade against the immovable blade.

5. In a coconut husking machine, the combination of a frame, a stationary blade extending above the frame, a movable blade normally closed against the stationary blade, operating means, mechanism interposed between said operating means and the movable blade for actuating the movable blade and including a cam having a shiftable fulcrum, and means for automatically restoring said cam to normal position and closing the movable blade against the stationary blade.

6. In a coconut husking machine, a supporting frame, a stationar blade carried by the frame, a movable bla e normally closed against the stationary blade and forming with the stationary blade a husk impaler, and means for effecting movement of the movable blade relatively to the stationary blade.

7 In a coconut husking machine, the combination of a frame, a stationary blade rising therefrom, a movable blade pivotally mounted in the said frame and normally in close relation to said stationary blade, a member to which the movable blade is attached, a pair of separated fulcrums for said member carried by said frame, said member having a sliding normally horizontally positioned arm provided with a slot engaging one of the fulcrums, means attached to said member for shifting said member on said fulcrums, and means connected to said member between said fulcrums for returning said member to normal position.

8. A coconuthusking machine comprising a supporting frame, a stationary blade rising upwardly therefrom, a movable blade cooperating with and normally closed against the stationary blade, a member depending from said movable blade and having upper and lower seats, separate fulcrum means engaging said seats, operating means connected to said member for shifting said seats relatively to said fulcrum means, and a resetting means connected to the said member between the fulcrums thereof for restoring the several parts to normal position.

9. In a coconut husking machine, a supporting frame having a stationary blade rising therefrom, a movable blade held by said frame and provided with a depending member, said member having a recess in its forward edge, and a normally horizontally positioned slotted arm at its lower portion and a projection between the arm and said recess, independent fulcrums engaging the recess and said arm, operating means separably attached to the rear of said member between its upper and lower ends, and a spring attached to said projection to act in opposition to the operat ing means and to restore the parts to normal position when the operating means is released.

10. A coconut husking machine including a supporting frame, a fixed blade carried thereby, a casting having two fulcrum points, a blade carried by the casting and coacting with the fixed blade, two fulcrums carried by the supporting frame and on which the casting is swingingly mounted, a lever connected to the casting, and a spring engaging the casting and normally holding the movable blade closed against the fixed blade and the lever elevated, the depression of the lever causing said casting to primarily rock on one of said fulcrums and effect the separation of the blades and the continued depression of the lever causing said casting to shift to and rock on the second fulcrum.

11. A coconut husking machine including a supporting frame, a fixed blade carried thereby, a casting having two fulcrum points, a blade carried by the casting and coacting with the fixed blade, two fulcrums carried by the supporting frame and by means of which the casting is swingingly mounted, a lever connected to the casting, and a spring engaging the casting and normally holding the movable blade closed upon the fixed blade and the lever elevated, the depression of the lever causing said casting first to rock on one of said fulcrums and effect the separation of the blades on an arc of said fulcrum and the continued depression of the lever increasing said are by shifting said casting to the other ful crum, the spring being placed under stress and imparting to the casting and movable blade a sudden opening action after the casting has been shifted to and rocked on the lastnamed fulcrum.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

REGINALD WV. TITMAS.

ROBERT S. HICKISH. 

